Podcast Summary: Grumpy SEO Guy

Episode 131 – The Dangers of Public Blog Networks

Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Grumpy SEO Guy

Overview

In this episode, the Grumpy SEO Guy breaks down the crucial differences between private and public blog networks (PBNs), focusing on why public blog networks are dangerous and ultimately ineffective for long-term SEO. Drawing from 14 years of agency experience, the host warns against buying links from publicly advertised networks and emphasizes the importance of understanding backlink quality and authority. The tone is direct, candid, and unfiltered—delivering hard-earned industry truths.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Private vs. Public Blog Networks

[06:15]

• Private Blog Network (PBN)/Portfolio:
  “A private blog network is when you build your own portfolio of authoritative websites and use those to link to the websites that you want to rank... You don't tell anybody about it.”
• Public Blog Network:
  “A public blog network is a blog network that is publicly available. People know about it. Random people can buy backlinks on it.”
• Clarifies that “portfolio” and “network” are often used interchangeably, but technically, a "portfolio" should not interlink sites, while "network" implies interlinking.

2. Why Public Blog Networks Are Dangerous

[09:05]

• Because public networks are advertised, “search engines are out there looking for these kinds of networks...and as soon as it’s public, it’s done.”
• Outlines the main risks:
  • They can be discovered/de-indexed by search engines.
  • They may get penalized.
  • They often devolve into “link farms”—sites with too many outbound links.

Quote (11:45):
“Once a network becomes public, it is done—not immediately, but soonish... It can be discovered by search engines, penalized, or turn into a link farm.”

3. No Marketplace Exists for “Good Backlinks”

[14:10]

• Frequently asked, “Where can I buy real backlinks?”
• The answer: Legitimate marketplaces for good backlinks do not exist.
• Any public forum will be “full of spammers,” both sellers and buyers.

Quote (15:30):
“As soon as somebody builds that forum, it will be full of spammers. Not only from the sellers, but from the buyers.”

• Even “moderated” marketplaces get flooded with scams.

4. Quality Over Quantity: Backlink Fundamentals

[19:30]

• Greatest SEO challenge: finding high-quality backlinks.
• It’s essential to understand the difference between good and bad backlinks.
  • Linking just to get backlinks isn’t enough; “SEO is a competition, not a checklist.”
• Review of all ways to get backlinks:
  1. Do nothing and hope for natural links.
  2. Buy backlinks (not recommended until you understand quality).
  3. Link outreach/guest posting.
  4. Build your own (DIY private addresses).

5. Problems with Public Backlink Vendors

[23:05]

• Public sellers often care only about volume, not client industry or link quality.
• Getting links next to “shady” industries can harm your reputation.
• Public sellers don’t take proper precautions; such sites usually become link farms.
• Main advice: “Be aware of people who are trying too hard to sell you backlinks.”

6. Real-world Example: When Public Networks Go Bad

[29:30]

• Recounts the story of a once “hidden” network that was publicly advertised—and then publicly outed by a search engine employee on Twitter, after which it was fully de-indexed.

Quote (30:05):
“They detected this network, and I believe the entire network got deindexed. And then everybody was mad. Well, it was a publicly available network. What did you think was going to happen?”

7. Only Two Ways to Get “Real” PBN Links

[32:00]

• Know someone who owns a true private network (almost impossible, since real networks are not advertised).
• Build your own (DIY approach is recommended throughout the podcast).
• There is no third option!

Quote (33:00):
“There is no secret marketplace for real PBN sellers and good SEO vendors. It doesn’t exist.”

8. Why Public Networks Lose All Competitive Value

[34:45]

• If something is easy and public, everyone will do it—so it stops being an advantage.
• “For something to give you a competitive advantage in SEO, it has to be rare.”

9. The Core Takeaway: Avoid Public Blog Networks

[37:10]

• If sites selling backlinks post their lists publicly, “search engines are going to know about them.”
• Public networks eventually stop working, even if they seem effective for a short time.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 06:15 | Grumpy SEO Guy | “A private blog network is... you don’t tell anybody about it.” | | 11:45 | Grumpy SEO Guy | “Once a network becomes public, it is done—not immediately, but soonish...” | | 15:30 | Grumpy SEO Guy | “As soon as somebody builds that forum, it will be full of spammers. Not only from the sellers, but from the buyers.” | | 19:30 | Grumpy SEO Guy | “SEO is a competition, not a checklist. You don’t need some backlinks in order to rank. What you need is more authority than your competition.” | | 23:05 | Grumpy SEO Guy | “Be aware of people that are trying too hard to sell you backlinks or publicly available ones.” | | 30:05 | Grumpy SEO Guy | “They detected this network, and I believe the entire network got deindexed. And then everybody was mad. Well, it was a publicly available network. What did you think was going to happen?” | | 33:00 | Grumpy SEO Guy | “There is no secret marketplace for real PBN sellers and good SEO vendors. It doesn’t exist.” | | 34:45 | Grumpy SEO Guy | “For something to give you a competitive advantage in SEO, it has to be rare and it has to be helpful.”| | 37:10 | Grumpy SEO Guy | “If the sites are posted publicly, the search engines are going to know about them... When link networks are public, they stop working eventually.” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [06:15] – Definitions: Private vs. Public Blog Network
• [09:05] – Why Public Blog Networks Fail
• [14:10] – The Myth of “Good Backlink” Marketplaces
• [19:30] – How to Get Backlinks: Four Options
• [23:05] – Problems with Public Backlink Vendors
• [29:30] – Real-World Public Network Failure Example
• [32:00] – The Only Two Paths to Real PBNs
• [34:45] – Public Networks & Lost Competitive Advantage
• [37:10] – Final Advice & Summary Warnings

Essential Takeaways

• Never buy links from public blog networks or vendors who publicly advertise their sites.
• There is no legitimate marketplace or forum for “real” PBN backlinks; any public venue becomes worthless fast.
• Your only true options for powerful PBN links:
  • Build your own (DIY)
  • Know someone with a genuine, non-advertised, private portfolio
• Do your own research—understand backlink quality before investing in any SEO campaign.
• If everyone has access to a backlink, it has no advantage.

If you’re seeking to win at SEO, Grumpy SEO Guy’s lesson is clear:

“Be extremely careful if you are considering buying backlinks from a public source...” ([37:10])

For listener questions or further discussion, contact Grumpy SEO Guy via email or on the Grumpy SEO Guy subreddit.